Case cutter



March 4, 1969 R. H. HOBSON 3,430,339

CAS E CUTTER Filed May 16, 1967 O INVENTOR United States Patent O 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises a simple case cutter for use in opening corrugated paper containers and for other uses. It comprises a pair of hollow generally rectangular elongated housing sections hinged at one end to fold from edge abutting relation to end to end relation. A blade holder is detachably secured in one section to substantially fill the same. This blade holder comprises a pair of blocks hingedly connected along longitudinal edges. One block has its inner surface recessed to accommodate a single edged razor blade, enclosing the thickened edge of the blade and holding the opposite cutting edge projecting from, and parallel to, the edges of the blocks. The inner surface of the other block is recessed to accommodate the blade so that a corner of the cutting edge projects from the blocks. When in edge abutting relation, the blade is completely enclosed within the two sections. When in end to end relation, the other section serves as a handle and a portion of the blade is exposed for cutting purposes.

This invention relates to an improvement in case cutters and deals particularly with a simple and effective tool for use in opening cases of corrugated paperboard and the like. Various types of tools have been produced for use in the opening of packing cases made of corrugated paperboard and the like. Most such tools comprise a blade mounted upon a metal blade support having a handle by means of which the tool may be manipulated. Many such tools have means for retracting the blade or moving it to an inoperative position. Unfortunately, such means usually require loosening of the blade and changing its position which the operator does not bother doing. The present invention resides in a blade support which may be made of plastic or similar material, and which comprises a pair of hollow hinged sections which may swing from edge abutting relation to end-to-end position. When the two sections are in end-to-end relation,

the blade projects from one section while the other section serves as a handle. As a result, the blade may be completely enclosed by merely swinging the two hollow sections into edge abutting relation.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a simple and effective manner of supporting a single edged razor blade. Two generally rectangular plastic blocks are hingedly connected along an edge thereof. One of the blocks includes a recess designed to hold the blade with the cutting edge thereof projecting from between the blocks and parallel to the edge thereof. The other of the blocks is provided with a recess designed to hold the blade with one corner thereof projecting from between the blocks. The recesses in the blocks are in the inner opposed surfaces thereof. As a result, either the complete cutting edge of the blade projects into operative position, or else a corner of the blade projects, at the desire of the operator.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a blade holder of the type described in which the two blocks between which the blade is positioned are frictionally engaged into one section of the other receptacle, with the cutting edge extending into the other section of the receptacle when the two sections are in edge abutting relation. The blocks are merely frictionally engaged in place, and the blocks and the blade may be withdrawn by merely lifting them from the section in which they are engaged.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the case cutter in closed position.

FIGURE 2 of the drawings is a perspective view of the case cutter in partially open position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the case cutter, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blade supporting blocks in open position thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the blade holding blocks hinged together to support a blade projecting therefrom.

The case cutter is indicated in general by the letter A. In preferred form, the case cutter A includes a pair of similar hollow sections 10 and 11 which are hingedly connected as will be described. The section 10 includes a top closure 12, parallel sides 13-, and parallel ends 14 which are arranged in generally rectangular relationship. In the same manner, the section 11 includes a bottom closure 15, parallel side walls 16, and parallel ends such as 17. The side walls of both sections 10 and 11 are similarly spaced so that in one position, the two sections are in edge abutting relation with the undersurface 19 of the housing section 10 abutting the upper surface 20 of the lower section 11. As will be understood, the designation of the sections 10 and 11 as upper and lower sections is merely for the purpose of reference as the cutter is shown in this position in the drawings.

One end wall of each of the sections 10 and 11 include projecting ears 22, 23 through which a pivot pin 24 extend to hingedly connect the two sections in end-to-end relation. The other end walls of the two sections include a hook shaped locking projection 25 on one section 10, and a cooperable locking lug 26 on the end wall of the other section. The plastic of which the sections are made is sufficiently resilient so that the hook shaped projection may lock over the lug 26, or may be flexed into unlatched relation thereto.

A pair of plastic blade holding plates 29 and 30 are provided which are designed to frictional'ly engage in one of the sections as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings. The plate 29 is provided with hinge lugs 31 projecting from a side edge thereof near opposite ends of the edge. The other plate 30 is provided with similar projecting ears 32 which are arranged in face contact with the ears 31. Hinge pins 33 extend through the lugs 31, 32 at each end of the plate to hingedly connect the plates. As is indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the inner surface of the plate 29 is provided with a shallow recess 34 designed to accommodate the blade of a singleedged razor blade, the recess having a strip 35 of greater depth extending along the edge of the recess 34 to accommodate the reinforced edge of the blade. The recesses 34, 35 are arranged at an angle to the longitudinal edges of the block 29, and are arranged so that one corner of a single edge razor blade B may project from between the blocks with one corner of the blade projecting as indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. As will be noted, the corner of the blade B projects from the hinged edges of the blocks or plates between the hinges.

The plate 30 is provided with a shallow rectangular recess 36 communicating with the edge 37 of the block or plate which is opposite the hinged edge thereof. A more deeply recessed recess portion 39 extends parallel to and spaced from the block edge 37 to accommodate the reinforced edge of the blade B. This reinforced edge is diagrammatically illustrated at 40 in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that when the blade is engaged in the recesses 34 and 35 of the block 29, the corner of the cutting edge of the blade B will project from between the blocks when they are hinged together as indicated in FIGURE 5. When the blade is positioned in recesses 36, 39 of the block 30, the blade B will project from between the blocks with the cutting edge parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal edges such as 37 of the blocks.

When the blade is clamped between the blocks, and the two blocks are in side by side relation as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 5 of the drawings, the blocks with the blade may be inserted into the housing section 11. As the blocks 29 and 30 are somewhat wider than the depth of the walls of the housing section, the projecting portion of the blocks may extend into the housing section when the sections are hinged into edge abutting relation. When in use, the housing section 10 serves as a handle, and adjustable pressure may be exerted against the section 11 urging the cutting blade into the packing case.

The foregoing description has indicated that the two hollow sections are hingedly connected by projecting ears 22 and 23 through which the pivot pin extends. It should be understood that an integral molded hinge could similarly be used which integrally connects the two sections 10 and 11, and which serves the same purpose. This is also true of the hinge lugs 31, 32 connected by the pins 33. The plates 29 and 30 may similarly be connected by integral molded hinges if desired.

In accordance with the Patent Ofiice statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in case cutter, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A case cutter in combination with a single edged blade including a generally rectangular elongated blade body having a thickened generally rectangular reinforcing edge along one longitudinal edge thereof and a sharpened cutting edge along the opposite longitudinal edge thereof, the case cutter including:

a pair of elongated hollow open edge housing sections hingedly connected to fold from end to end relation, to a closed position in which the open edges are in edge abutting relation,

a blade holding element frictionally engaged in one of said sections,

said blade holding element comprising a pair of substantially rectangular elongated blocks having inner surfaces in substantially contiguous relation on opposite sides of said blade,

one of said blocks having a recess in its inner surface thereof extending parallel tothe longitudinal edges of said blocks and accommodating the reinforced edge of the blade with the cutting edge projecting beyond, and parallel to, a longitudinal edge of said blocks when said blocks are in said contiguous relation,

the other of said blocks having a recess in its inner surface extending angularly relative to said longitudinal block edges and accommodating the reinforced edge of the blade with only one corner of the cutting edge thereof projecting beyond a longitudinal edge of said blocks when said blocks are in contiguous relation,

the other of said sections enclosing said projecting blade portion when in said closed position.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said blade holding element projects from said one section and is frictionally engaged with said other section in said closed position.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including means pivotally connecting two longitudinal edges of said blocks.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said recesses are so positioned that the cutting edge of the blade projects from between the contiguous longitudinal edges on one side of the block when the reinforced edge thereof is engaged in one of said recesses, and projects from the contiguous longitudinal edges on the other side of the blocks when engaged in the other of said recesses.

5. The structure of claim 4 and in which the said blocks are hingedly connected along one longitudinal edge by hinge means between which the blade may project when the blade is projecting from this one longitudinal edge.

6. The structure of claim 1 and including a pair of hinge means connecting contiguous longitudinal edges of said blocks and spaced to permit the cutting edge of the blade to project therebetween.

7. The structure of claim 1 and including a pair of hinge means connecting contiguous longitudinal edges of said blocks and spaced apart to permit the corner of the cutting edge to project therebetween when the reinforced edge of said blade is engaged in the recess of the other of said blocks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,759,734 8/1956 Velepec -61 X 2,308,162 1/1943 Frank 30-329 3,314,148 4/1967 Foellmi 30-162 323,028 7/1885 Ducker 30-112 X 1,485,450 3/1924 Baum 30-156 2,119,045 5/1938 Dietrich 30-337 X 2,628,423 2/1953 Cuntz 30-156 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.'R. 

